LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 169

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

SOCIAL ACTION AND WELFARE, WORLD RELIEF 169

To Discourage Use of Term “Lutheran”
in Regard to Private Welfare Ventures

RESOLUTION 9-14

Overture 9-08 (CW, p. 340)
WuHereEas, An increasing number of new health and
welfare agencies identify themselves as “Lutheran”; and
Whereas, A significant number of these agencies do
not have a responsible relationship to our church body;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod discourage the use of the
designation “Lutheran” by present or projected agencies
which do not maintain a proper relationship to our
church or, in the case of inter-Lutheran welfare en-
deavors, to the concerned Lutheran church bodies in
America.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

To Encourage the Use of Consultative
Services of the Synod’s Board of Social
Welfare

RESOLUTION 9-15

Overture 9-09 (CW, p. 340)

Wuereas, A major responsibility of the Board of So-
cial Welfare is the conducting of surveys and studies
with the threefold objective of uncovering existing
needs, evaluating the adequacy of existing service re-
sources, and developing suitable recommendations
whereby Christian individuals, congregations, agencies,
and Districts may address themselves meaningfully to
the needs of the neighbor out of love for Christ; and

Wuereas, Many welfare-minded groups lack the
necessary resources to assess properly the needs with
which they are concerned and to determine the appro-
priate response to these needs; therefore be it

Resolved, That we urge our Districts and congrega-
tions to make use of the consultative services of the
synodical Board of Social Welfare, through their Dis-
trict welfare committees, well in advance of structuring
any proposed welfare service; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Social Welfare, in pro-
viding such counsel, continue to respect the autonomy
of the congregations and of the Lutheran welfare
agencies.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

To Encourage Districts to Examine
Their Programs of Institutional
Chaplaincy Services
RESOLUTION 9-16

Overture 9-10 (CW, p.340)
Whereas, Programs of institutional chaplaincy ser-

vices have been carried on in the Districts of the Synod
with blessed results; and

Wuereas, Such institutional chaplaincy services are
being offered according to a variety of patterns, some
supported by groups of congregations formed into an
association, some by a District board, some by welfare
agencies, and some by independently operated state
agencies; and

Wuereas, It appears that greater coordination and
unification of such programs would increase their effec-
tiveness; and

Wuereas, It is important that the ecclesiastical status
of institutional chaplains be safeguarded; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Districts be encouraged to charge
certain boards or committees with the responsibility of
developing, coordinating, and supervising institutional
chaplaincy programs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Districts, through their desig-
nated boards or committees, establish the practice of
calling and installing all institutional chaplains, includ-
ing those already serving without such a call, to pre-
serve their ecclesiastical status.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

To Decline Overture Regarding Designation
of Relief Funds
RESOLUTION 9-17

Overture 9-11 (CW, pp. 340, 341)

Wuereas, The stated policy of the Synod (Handbook
13.15 £), as well as that of the Texas District, takes into
account the needs of people in disaster situations; and

Wuereas, The Board of World Relief is not a de-
pository of surplus relief funds for individual Districts
but a distribution agency for the entire Synod; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That Overture 9-11 be respectfully de-
clined.
Action: This resolution was adopted.

To Call Upon Fellow Lutherans to Sense
a Radical Commitment Toward the Poor
RESOLUTION 9-18

Overture 9-17 (CW, p.343)

Wuereas, The world and society we live in are so
complex that personal charity by itself is unable to cope
with the massive problem of poverty; and

Wuereas, Government action can serve as a God-
pleasing and effective means of alleviating poverty, even
though it can neither substitute for nor legislate Chris-
tian love; therefore be it

Resolved, That we encourage our fellow Christians
as citizens to support existing governmental and com-
munity programs to improve effectively the earthly lot
of the poor and needy; and be it further

Resolved, That we call upon our fellow Lutherans to
sense a personal commitment toward the poor and in